Senate Committee Approves Decriminalizing Marijuana

Senate Committee Approves Decriminalizing Marijuana

Before today's committee vote, Baltimore County Democrat Bobby Zirkin talks about his bill to decriminalize marijuana. Download This File

In Annapolis, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee has approved a bill to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana.

The bill approved by a vote of 8-3 would reduce the penalty for possessing up to 10 grams of marijuana from 90-days in jail and a $500-fine, to just a $100-fine. Under the Senate bill, juveniles who are convicted could be ordered into treatment. First time offenders would have their records cleared once they paid the fine.

The bill, co-sponsored by Baltimore County Democratic Senator Bobby Zirkin and Howard County Republican Allan Kittleman, is seen as an alternative to a bill that would legalize marijuana for recreational use. The chairman of the committee, Brian Frosh, says there are not enough votes to pass that bill.

Zirkin says this measure is more acceptable to lawmakers who oppose legalizing recreational marijuana.

"The reason that decriminalization is almost a no-brainer is that in the 17 states that have it, literally none of them have seen an increase in drug usage, of marijuana, no drugged driving, no increase in drug usage, nothing," Zirkin told WBAL News.

The bill now goes to the full Senate which will consider it next week. The Senate passed a similar bill last year. The measure never made it through the House of Delegates.

Washington County Republican Senator Christopher Shank, who voted against the bill last year, said he was uncertain as to how he would vote today. At the end of a 30-minute discussion, he held his nose and voted "yes.